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It didn’t come easy and it came down to hitting free throws at the end, but the Montcalm Community College Centurions women’s basketball team snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win, Friday, Dec. 12. 

The Centurions (2-9 overall) defeated the South Suburban College Bulldogs (4-4 overall), 72-68 to earn their first win since their opening-season game, Nov. 1. The game was played at Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Mich. as part of the Dave Selmon Classic. 

“It felt absolutely amazing to get that W,” said Baylor Syrjala, the Lakeview freshman, who led the team in scoring (24 points, a career high), rebounds (seven) and assists (seven). “We finally broke our losing streak, so that was nice.” 

The teams were locked at 65-65 with just over a minute to go until MCC’s Emma Rewa (Greenville, Mich.) was fouled after rebounding a missed shot by the Bulldogs. After sinking both free throws, the Centurions forced a turnover on their next possession, which turned into a two-point bucket by Syrjala, giving MCC a 69-65 lead with just 49 seconds left.  

The Centurions added another free throw by Syrjala with 16 seconds to make it a 70-65 game. However, SSB’s Raye Robinson nailed a three-pointer to suddenly cut the lead to two with 10 seconds left. The Bulldogs continued to foul to manage the clock, but Syrjala hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds to go, icing the game. 

“We played really well together and we found the people who were hot with our shooting,” Syrjala said. “I also think free throws were a big factor as we were fouled and were forced to shoot them. If we didn’t make them at certain times, we could have lost.” 

MCC shot 13-for-22 at the free throw line with Syrjala going 7-for-8.  

Centurions head coach Scott Pedigo said the team could’ve shot better at the free throw line but made the ones that counted down the stretch. Pedigo said making the late-game shots shows his team is starting to come around. 

“We played smart with our possessions of the ball in this game,” he said. “We were definitely undersized, as they had two six-foot-tall girls, and we didn’t have an answer for them. But we were able to press the whole game and, the biggest thing, we shot well overall.” 

The Bulldogs outrebounded the Centurions 63-36, with Makayla Hurley getting 18 of them while also scoring 12 points.  

The win helped Pedigo’s team realize they are close to putting things together as a team and compete in each and every game. 

“We’re starting to understand how to play,” he said. “The younger kids are learning the physicalness of the college level and we’ve started doing things in the games that we’ve been successful doing in practice.” 

Along with Syrjala’s stats, MCC’s top performers were Kendall Stout (Stanton, Mich.) with 20 points and four rebounds and Karlie Bacon (Stanton, Mich.) with seven points, four rebounds and three assists.  

Oakton takes out Centurions, 72-55 

Playing in back-to-back days, the Centurions took on Oakton Community College the day after beating South Suburban College, once again playing at Grand Rapids Community College, falling 72-55, Saturday, Dec. 13. 

The Centurions started out well in the first quarter, taking a 23-20 lead. However, things went south from there as the Owls outscored them 26-13 in the second quarter, going into halftime with a 46-36 lead.  

“We did have a great first quarter. After that, we had turnovers that turned into points for them,” Syrjala said. “Some of our players were in foul trouble, as well. I think we got a little frustrated with our turnovers, which turned into losing our focus to be able to get back into it and keep the lead.” 

The Owls kept the pressure on in the third quarter, building their lead to 20 when Oakton’s Jaylen Zachary hit a two-point shot to make it 65-45 with 32 seconds to go in the quarter.  

MCC managed to outscore Oakton, 10-7, in the fourth quarter but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. Pedigo said the loss wasn’t so much about what the Owls were doing as it was with what the Centurions were doing to themselves. 

“We turned the ball over 27 times. That defined the end of the second quarter and all of the third quarter for us,” Pedigo said. “I think we got gassed, playing back-to-back days.” 

Foul trouble and fatigue forced Pedigo to take his team out of its press defense, a scheme that has worked well with MCC’s talent. Once he did that, though, the Owls took advantage. 

“It didn’t help that we didn’t shoot well, either,” Pedigo said. 

Despite the loss, Pedigo is seeing a difference in his team. 

“I think we’ve played some pretty good teams and I think our upset against South Suburban surprised some people,” he said. 

Syrjala led the team once again with 18 points and nine rebounds, followed by Bacon, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, and Stout, who had 11 points and six rebounds.  

UP NEXT: The Centurions will play one more game before they go on Christmas break, which will be at home against Macomb Community College (6-4 overall), Monday, Dec. 22. Game time is 2 p.m. 

Pedigo said the Lions may come in a little short-handed as at least three of their players are dinged up. Despite that, Pedigo is preparing his Centurions as if the Lions are at full capacity. 

“They’ve been injury-bugged and if three of them are out, it’ll be a tough battle for them,” Pedigo said. “But we’re going to prepare as if they’re all healthy by Monday. If not, then we will do things a little differently.” 

Syrjala will be looking for her team to toughen up in the paint and improve on shooting and free throws. 

“We are going to focus on defense, boxing and out free throws,” she said. “With these past games, I learned that I can play defense against the opposing team’s best players. I also learned that if we work together as a whole, we can beat any team we face.”